Latch



May 22, 1956 E. w. HoLRlTz 2,746,784

LATCH Filed OC. 50, 1953 -MMM/ W ATTORNEY United gStates Patent O LATCH Edward W. Holritz, Mount Vernon, N. Y. Application OetoberSl), 1953, Serial No. 389,200 3 Claims. (Cl. 292-175) This invention relates to latch constructions and, more particularly, to-a simplified, rugged spring latch construction in which the manipulating handle is recessed in the latch mounting member so as to be substantially tiush with the face of a door or the like on which the latch is mounted. 4

Recessed latch constructions as hitherto provided have been characterized by complexity of parts and assembly. These characteristics have not only resulted in relatively high manufacturing costs but also have a tendency to malfunction due to the number `of components of the latch and their relatively complicated assembly.

In contrast thereto, the latch construction of the present inventionv is characten'zed by a minimum number of component parts assembled in a simplified manner,-certain of the parts being permanently united into an integral subunit to further reduce the number of separate components.

More particularly, the invention latch construction includes a cup or dish shaped mounting member or casing, preferably substantially rectangular in outline, whose body portion is adapted to be set into a correspondingly shaped opening or aperture in a door or the like. The mounting member has a peripheral, outwardly extending flange by means of which the latch assembly may be spot welded or otherwise secured to the controlled closure.

A latch bolt, in the form of an elongated metal strip having one end bent outwardly to form a spring abutment, is slidably engaged with the outer surface of the bottom of the dished casing, being held thereto and guided by a spring housing and bolt guide. The two guiding elements are spaced longitudinally of the bolt, and preferably welded or brazed to the latch casing, with the spring housing comprising a anged box having an open end receiving the bent end of the bolt which engages a coil spring abutting the closed end of the box.

In alignment with the bolt, the base of the casing is formed with a short slot of substantially the same width as the bolt. A Z-shaped bracket has one leg disposed in this slot and welded or brazed to the bolt, this leg, in cooperation with the slot edges, forming guiding means for the bolt. The web of the bracket has a length of the order of the depth of the casing, and the opposite leg of the bracket carries a substantially rectangular latch handle or manipulator. The handle lies within the casing, with its front face substantially Vflush with the outer tianged surface of the casing.

For an understanding of the invention principles, reference is made to the following description of a typical embodiment of the invention as illustrated in the accompanying drawing. In the drawing:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation View of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a rear elevation view of the latch; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse sectional views of the latch taken on the correspondingly numbered section lines of Figs. 1 and 3, respectively.

a latch embodying Referring to the drawings, thev invention latch construction includes a casing or mounting member 10 on which is slidably mounted a bolt assembly generally indicated at 20 and including a bolt 25, biased toward a latching position by a coil spring 30, and secured to an operating member or handle 15.

The casing 10 is a drawn metal cup or dish, preferably rectangular in form, having a base 11, side walls 12, end walls 13, and an outturned peripheral rim or flange 14. By means of flange 14, the latch assembly may be spot welded or otherwise secured to a closure having a recess receiving the body of casing 10.

Secured to the outer surface of base 11 adjacent one end wall 13 is a metal bolt guide 15 having flanges 16 welded or brazed to ba'se 11 and an otset center section 17. Centersection 17 has a lateral extent and depth of the order of the width and thickness of bolt 25. The latter is an elongated bar or strip extending through guide 15 and having a latch end normally projecting beyond on end wall 13 of casing 10.

The opposite end of bar 25 is bent outwardly at right angles, as at 21, to form a spring abutment. This abutment is arranged to be received in the open end of a spring housing 35 containing spring 30. Housing 35 is a box-like metal member having a base 31, side walls 32, an end wall 33, and outturned flanges 34 which are spot? welded or brazed to base 11. Spring 30 is mounted in housing 35 with one end engaging end wall 33 and the other end abutting the bent end 21 of bolt 25.

At substantially its center, base 11 is formed with a short, substantially rectangular elongated slot 18 having a width of the order of that of bolt 25 and centrally aligned therewith. The ends of slot 18 are illustrated as preferably rounded. Slot 18 receives a leg 22 of a Z-shaped bracket 23, this leg being somewhat shorter than the slot and the bracket 23 having substantially the width of bolt 25. Leg 22 is welded or brazed to bolt 25 and, in cooperation with slot 18 serves as a guide for the bolt. It will be noted that engagement of the end of leg 22 with one end of slot 18 serves to limit projection of bolt 25 to a limiting position in which abutment 21 is still within spring housing 35.

The center section or web 24 of bracket 23 has a length of the order of the depth of casing 10. The opposite leg 26 of the bracket supports the handle or operator 15. The latter is an angular metal member having a relatively wide leg 27 spot welded or brazed tively short leg 28 extending into substantial engagement with base 11. The free end 29 of leg 27 is inturned and bent slightly outwardly to form a finger grip for the handle 15.

Handle 15 lies within the contines of casing 10, its width being somewhat less than the spacing of side walls 12, 12. This provides a ush mounted, recessed relation of the latch assembly to the associated closure.

It will be apparent, from the foregoing description, that the invention latch comprises a minimum of parts, resulting in simplicity of construction and operation and substantially lesseuing any possibility of derangement of the latch components.

While a specific embodiment of the invention has been shown and described in'detail to illustrate the applica tion of the invention principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.`

What is claimed is:

1. A latch assembly comprising, in combination, an integral dish shaped mounting member having a base, formed with a relatively short slot, a peripheral wall perpendicular to said base and a peripheral mounting flange extending from the outer edge of said wall substantially parallel to said base; an elongated latch bar toleg 26, and a relaslidably engaging the outer surface of said base and aligned with the slot therein; guiding means for said bar secured to the outer surface of said base; spring means mounted on the outer surface of said base and biasing said bar to the extended, latching position; a bracket secured to said bar and extending along such slot in guiding relation therewith, and having a portion extending perpendicularly to said base; and a handle secured to the outer end of said bracket portion and lying within said mounting member, said handle comprising an angular member extending across said mounting member with one leg substantially parallel to said base secured to said bracket and forming a grip portion spaced from said base and the other leg extending substantially perpendicular to and engageable with said base to guide the handle relative thereto; said bracket, in cooperation with the slot, limiting projection of said bar.

2. A latch assembly comprising, in combination, an integral dish shaped mounting member having a base, formed with a relatively short substantially rectangular slot, a peripheral Wall perpendicular to said base and a peripheral mounting ange extending from the outer edge of said wall substantially parallel to said base; a box shaped spring housing secured to the outer surface of said base adjacent one end thereof and having an open end; a coil spring mounted in said housing; a substantially flat elongated bolt engaged with the outer surface of said base in alignment with such slot, said bolt having an outwardly bent end extending into said housing and engaged with said spring', a bolt guiding bracket embracing said bolt and secured to the outer surface of said base adjacent the other end thereof; a bracket secured to said bolt and extending along such slot in guiding relation therewith, and having a portion extending perpendicularly to said base', and a handle secured to the outer end of said bracket portion and lying Within said mounting member, said handle having a grip portion spaced from said base; said bracket, in cooperation with the slot, limiting projection of said bolt.

3. A latch assembly as claimed in claim 2 in which said bracket is Z-shape and has two legs, one leg secured in superposed relation to said bolt and lying in the slot to guide said bolt, and the other leg secured to said handle.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,134,038 Demirjean Mar. 30, 1915 1,139,869 Howard May 18, 1915 1,675,591 Bell July 3, 1928 2,438,597 Batina Mar. 30, 1948 2,642,300 Pelcin June 16, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 314,711 Great Britain Iuly 4, 1929 

